Everton have had an air of positivity around Goodison Park after David Moyes’ arrival, but have now been branded as a “disgrace” in a sudden turn of events.

Everton Under-18s faced Wigan Athletic in a test event at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium on Monday (17 February), giving the 10,000 fans in attendance a glimpse into the Toffees’ new home, as well as potential future stars.

The Merseyside-based club have a reputation for bringing players from Liverpool to the fore, with Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman and Ross Barkley among those who have come through the ranks.

However, that has not been the case in recent years, with the Under-21s’ 2-1 defeat against Southampton Under-21s last week highlighting a major issue.

Everton scouting not what it used to be

The Everton Under-21s’ line-up to face Southampton did not feature a single player from Merseyside, with several players snapped up from other clubs over the years.

According to TEAMtalk, the Blues’ scouting setup is “nothing like what it used to be”, with sources even branding the system a “disgrace”.

The news outlet reported via their website (18 February) that the Premier League had over 300 scouts working in the North-West region alone during David Moyes’ first spell at Goodison Park.

However, Everton now have just over 40 scouts on their books in total, with the number seeing a dramatic fall in recent years.

The Friedkin Group make promise

Sources have also flagged the Toffees’ tendency to rope in players from the Under-7s age group and upwards as a major problem, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City picking up players earlier.

The Friedkin Group have identified the academy as a department that needs strengthening since buying the club from Farhad Moshiri in December.

It now remains to be seen if Dan Friedkin and Co can make Everton’s scouting system, especially at the youth level, as strong as it used to be.

Having witnessed how big the network used to be during his first stint with the Toffees, there is no doubt that Moyes would also welcome such a move.

Related Posts